The Arkansaw traveler., 1887-08-20

The captain had been waiting near ly half an hour when there came an ominous sound from the forest in front. It was too dark to see, but there could be no mistaking that sound. It was the tramp of men con- ing cautiously on, as force would do in the dark, expecting to meet an en- emy at every step. The captain thought it yet too early to retire and so there was nothing for it but to await the oncoming force and trust to fortune. On it came, and presently the dusky forms of line of skirmish- CTS were seen scarcely thirty paces in front of the Federal line. At the same instant the captains men, standing si- lently in their places, were discovered by the others. Neither knew certainly to which army the other belonged. The line which came from the wood halted without command, hesitating Then an officer stepped forward and de- handed:
 "What troops are those?"
 Not at loss for a moment, the Federal captain responded:
 "All right! We're going up the hill. Be ready to support us. Now, then, men-quietly! Pass the word along!"
 Whatever the doubts of the other, the captain was sure that the force confronting him was Confederate. He was at last relieved of uncertainty hn ISt ' sc Hnr stood the command went from man to man iii low tones, and the whole line of skirmishers quietly turned and marched up through the corn to the top of the ridge. As they came to the open ground at the summit all was still about and in front of them. Their comrades were out of hearing ill their retreat. The captain mounted his horse-which an orderly had been holding while the captain was on foot with his skirmishers-andp put his lit tie regiment ill motion to follow the army. He himself remained until the last of his men had filed by, and then followed. AS he did this, he turned his face as if for last look at the bloody field. There was nothing there now but darkness and silence. Per- feet silence, it seemed, thinking of what had been there now less than two hours before. It was perfect si- fence, save that 200 yards down the ridge to the front, where the enemy's dead and wounded lay thickest, a sharp cry came up out of the night now and then, as the hospital corps lifted sufferer too roughly or turned some poor fellow over upon a mangled limb. Save, also, that rustling noise in the corn through which he had just come told the captain that the enemy's skirmishers left at the fence below were already moving on his track.
 "The last man at Chickamauga !" muttered the captain as he rode on af- ter his regiment.
 They passed quickly down the rear ward slope into the deeper shadow of the valley, and presently turning their heads to look behind, saw faintly out lined against the sky the figure of the southern skirmishers as one after an- other they emerged from the corn and stood upon the crest.
 The last of Chickamauga An, no l! Not the last; for as the little rear guard reached the lower ground they came upon their wounded comrades, who, too badly hurt to go on to the rear, had yet with untold agony dragged themselves back from the fire swept ground in front, and so got partial shelter. Along the route tn csc wretched sufferers lay thickly. Here one with an arm halt torn off; there a foot dangling; here poor fellow shot through the body, his death a question not of hours, but of minutes; and so on, in sickening continuance And all wanting water! There had been none all day, and the retreating soldiers were marching with lips and tongues blackened and swollen and cracked with thirst until many could utter no articulate sound.
 "Boys, you won't go and leave us here?"
 "For Gods sake, water! water!"
 "Boys are you going on the retreat, and leave us behind?"
 "You ought to hold the ground, boys, till they take care of us!"
 "Water! water! Don't let us die here?"
 Pitiful, pitiful appeals! And all in vain. Not canteen of water in the whole command. Not an ambu- lance within miles. Nothing but a victorious foe behind ,an unknown way in front, and the blackness of night over all! Pitiful, pitiful! Harder to face-these reproaches-than all of Bragg's artillery. An! here is pun ishment! Not only to leave the field to the enemy, but to abandon torn and bleeding brothers, also!
 So thought the captain, riding in rear of his little worn command. Pres